Grooved sheet pile and method for production thereof

ABSTRACT

The inventive grooved sheet pile having a though-type body is produced by cutting a cylindrical segment ( 1 ) from a round tube along the length thereof, and fixing locking elements ( 2  and  3 ) to the side edges of said segment. The segment ( 1 ) can be cut together with an annular section ( 15 ) of a tube ( 16 ) and reinforced by fixing elements ( 4 ), an internal ( 5 ) or external ( 6 ) strap, internal ( 8  and  9 ) and/or external ( 10  and  11 ) faceplates or stiffening ribs fixed thereto. Said segment can be embodied from sections of cylindrical segments welded to each other. At least one section ( 18 ) has an increased thickness or is made of a corrosion-resistant material. In order to produce an enlarged grooved pile, two or more cylindrical segments ( 1 ) cut from a tube are used. Said segments are disposed in a parallel position with respect to each other and fixed to each other with the aid of reinforcing elements ( 12, 13,  and  14 ). The locking elements ( 2  and  3 ) are fixed to the lateral side of the thus obtained panel. Said invention makes it possible to simplify the production of the grooved piles and to expand the variability of the design thereof. Said production can be carried out without rolling mills.

FIELD OF INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of construction andconcerns more specifically metallic grooved sheet piles intended toerect sheet-pile walls in the ground.

PRIOR ART

[0002] Known is a method for producing grooved sheet piles by hotrolling, during which rolling the pile body together with lockingelements are obtained. Such a technique makes it possible to fabricate aknown hot-rolled grooved pile that contains a wall and side flangesadjoining this wall, said flanges being provided with locking elementsmade in the form of hooks (see USSR Author's Certificate No. 1 731 905,E02D 5/00, E02D 5/02, B21 B 1/08, published in 1992). Free ends of theside flanges are spaced apart for a distance exceeding the wall width.The inner surface of the lock base is made inclined toward the point ofbending.

[0003] The hot rolling technique is also used to fabricate another knowngrooved pile that comprises, here again, a wall and side flanges withlocking elements adjoining this wall (see USSR Author's Certificate No.1 477 842, E02D 5/00, published in 1989). Free ends of the side flangesare spaced apart for a distance exceeding the wall width.

[0004] Furthermore, the hot rolling technique have been used to obtain aknown grooved pile having a trough-shaped body and locking elementsmolded from a same metal sheet of regular thickness (see German AcceptedApplication No. 2 631 807, E02D 5/04, published in 1977). The body iscurved along the arc of a circle and coupled to locking elements thatare formed by flanging the lateral parts of said body and bending theparts thus flanged so as to obtain hooks.

[0005] The same hot rolling technique have been adopted to manufacture aknown enlarged grooved pile comprising a wall with a central portion andtwo end portions, flanges coupled to said end portions of the wall, andlocking elements formed at the free ends of the flanges (see USSRAuthor's Certificate No. 755 945, E02D 5/04, published in 1980). Theflanges are directed oppositely with respect to the wall, perpendicularto its central portion. One of the locking elements is made in the formof a trapezoidal projection and another locking element, in the form ofa trapezoidal recess.

[0006] Besides, the hot rolling technique have been used to fabricate aknown enlarged grooved pile comprising a panel and locking elementsmolded together with said panel (see International Application No.92/19819, E02D 5/04, E02D 7/14, published in 1992). The panel and thelocking elements are obtained from a same metal sheet of regularthickness. The panel has the form of a plurality of parallel projectionswith trapezoidal cross-section. The locking elements are formed byflanging the panel's side parts so as to obtain hooks. Both panel andlocking elements are molded at the same time in the course of hotrolling.

[0007] Known is also a double section grooved pile consisting of twotrough-shaped piles joined together, each single pile having two lockingelements (see USSR Patent NO. 7292, Cl. 37B, E02D 5/02, published in1928). Such grooved piles are fabricated using the hot rolling method,the body and the locking elements being formed simultaneously. At onelateral face of the body there is provided a thickened edge and atanother face, a flange. The female locking element has a Π-shapedcross-section, while the male locking element is capable of lying insidethe cavity of said female element. The two trough-shaped grooved pilesare joined together by inserting the male element of one of the pilesinto the female locking element of another pile. Upon completion of thejoining operation, the locking elements are squeezed and deformed toform a permanent joint.

[0008] This method of producing a grooved pile by hot rolling of thebody together with the locking elements suffer of a drawback consistingin its complexity, taking into account that in order to implement thismethod, a dedicated multiroll mill is needed provided with rolls of acomplex shape.

[0009] There is known finally a method of producing grooved piles thatis simplified as compared with the above-described embodiment, thisimproved method comprising the steps of separate fabrication of atrough-shaped body and locking elements, followed by fixing said lockingelements to the side edges of said body. This method is usable tomanufacture a known grooved pile comprising a body and locking elementssecured thereto (see U.S. Pat. No. 5,333,971, Nat. Cl. 405-281, EO2D5/00, EO2D 7/20, published in 1994). The body is fabricated by hotrolling of a sheet of regular thickness. It has a flat central wall andtwo flat side walls adjoining at an angle said central wall.

[0010] It is possible in this case to use more simple rolls of therolling mill used to obtain the trough-shaped body. Nevertheless, thefabrication of this latter remains still complex enough owing to thenecessity to have a special rolling mill.

[0011] The disadvantage common to all the piles described above consistsin the complexity of their fabrication and the difficulty to use themdue to a limited variability of their structural implementation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] The object of the present invention is to simplify the process offabrication of grooved sheet piles while extending at the same time thevariability of their design.

[0013] To achieve the above technical result, a method of producing agrooved sheet pile is provided, comprising the steps of separatefabrication of a trough-shaped body and locking elements, characterizedin that said body is produced by cutting, from a round tube, acylindrical segment extending along the length thereof. Each lockingelement is fixed to the side edge of the segment thus cut or in thevicinity of this side edge.

[0014] The cylindrical segment may be cut together with an annularsection of the tube, which section adjoins said cylindrical segment oris located within the middle part thereof.

[0015] The cut cylindrical segment may be reinforced by securing to itreinforcing members or by fitting such reinforcing members into thissegment.

[0016] According to a method of producing a grooved sheet pile,comprising the steps of fabrication of a panel and locking elements, theprocess of fabricating said panel consists in cutting, from a roundtube, cylindrical segments extending along the length thereof. Then thesegments thus cut are arranged in a row in a parallel position withrespect to each other and rigidly fixed together. Each locking elementis fixed to the side edge of the panel or in the vicinity of this sideedge.

[0017] In a grooved sheet pile object of the invention, comprising atrough-shaped body and locking elements, said body is cut from a roundtube in the form of a cylindrical segment extending along the length ofsaid tube having a radial angle not exceeding 180°. Each locking elementis made in the form of a separate piece fixed to the side edge of saidcylindrical segment or in the vicinity of this side edge.

[0018] The grooved sheet pile may be provided with a strap fixed to themiddle part of the cylindrical segment thus forming a lens-shaped aircavity extending along the length of said cylindrical element, and/orprovided with fixing elements rigidly coupling together the side edgesof the cylindrical element, and/or provided with longitudinal stiffeningribs adjoining the side edges of the cylindrical segment.

[0019] The body wall may have, along the length of the grooved pile, avariable thickness and/or sections made of different materials.

[0020] A part of the body may be made in the form of a ring cut from around tube together with the cylindrical segment.

[0021] In an enlarged grooved pile, comprising a panel and lockingelements, said panel is composed of elongated cylindrical segments witha radial angle not exceeding 180°, that are cut from tubes and arrangedin a row in a parallel position with respect to each other. Thecylindrical segments are rigidly fixed together. Each locking element ismade in the form of a separate piece and fixed to the side edge of saidpanel or in the vicinity of this side edge.

[0022] An enlarged grooved pile may comprise a reinforcing membermounted between the cylindrical segments or put onto the adjacent sideedges of said cylindrical segments, and/or fixing elements rigidlycoupling together the side edges of said cylindrical elements, and/or astrap fixed to the middle part of the cylindrical segment, and/orfaceplates, and/or longitudinal stiffening ribs adjoining the side edgesof the panel.

[0023] The panel wall may have, along the length of the grooved pile, avariable thickness and/or sections made of different materials.

[0024] A part of the panel may be made in the form of a ring cut from around tube together with the cylindrical segment.

[0025] The above-listed methods allow the fabrication of grooved sheetpiles by using finished tubes as raw material for obtaining the body,thus eliminating the necessity for rolling mills specially designed tohot-roll such piles. The external and internal straps, the fixingelements, the external and internal faceplates, as well as thestiffening ribs contribute to increase the mechanical resistance of agrooved pile and its longitudinal stability.

[0026] Thanks to the great variability of structural implementation ofthe grooved sheet piles proposed herein, taking also into considerationa wide range of available ready-made tubes of different cross-sectionand different material, that are used to fabricate such piles, itbecomes possible to easily produce a very broad range of grooved pilesdesigned for different ground situations and service conditions, whileensuring at the same time their required strength and high operatingreliability.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0027] The advantages of the proposed set of embodiments of theinvention will become more apparent from the reading of the detaileddescription below with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0028]FIG. 1 shows, in a front view, a grooved sheet pile having acylindrical segment;

[0029]FIG. 2 shows, in a front view, a grooved sheet pile having acylindrical segment and fixing elements;

[0030]FIG. 3 shows, in a bottom view, a grooved sheet pile having acylindrical segment and fixing elements;

[0031]FIG. 4 shows, in a front view, a grooved sheet pile having acylindrical segment and an internal strap;

[0032]FIG. 5 shows, in a bottom view, a grooved sheet pile having acylindrical segment and an internal strap;

[0033]FIG. 6 shows, in a front view, a grooved sheet pile having acylindrical segment and an external strap;

[0034]FIG. 7 shows, in a front view, a grooved sheet pile having acylindrical segment and stiffening ribs;

[0035]FIG. 8 shows, in a front view, a grooved sheet pile having acylindrical segment, fixing elements and stiffening ribs;

[0036]FIG. 9 shows, in a bottom view, a grooved sheet pile having acylindrical segment, fixing elements and stiffening ribs;

[0037]FIG. 10 shows, in a front view, a grooved sheet pile having acylindrical segment, an internal strap and stiffening ribs;

[0038]FIG. 11 shows, in a front view, a grooved sheet pile having acylindrical segment, an external strap and stiffening ribs;

[0039]FIG. 12 shows, in a front view, a grooved sheet pile having acylindrical segment, an external strap and fixing elements;

[0040]FIG. 13 shows, in a front view, a grooved sheet pile having acylindrical segment, an internal strap and fixing elements;

[0041]FIG. 14 shows, in a front view, a grooved sheet pile having acylindrical segment and a ring of regular width;

[0042]FIG. 15 shows, in a bottom view, a grooved sheet pile having acylindrical segment and a ring of regular width;

[0043]FIG. 16 shows, in a front view, a grooved sheet pile having acylindrical segment and a ring of variable width;

[0044]FIG. 17 shows, in a bottom view, a grooved sheet pile having acylindrical segment and a ring of variable width;

[0045]FIG. 18 shows, in a front view, a grooved sheet pile having acylindrical segment and internal faceplates;

[0046]FIG. 19 shows, in a bottom view, a grooved sheet pile having acylindrical segment and internal faceplates;

[0047]FIG. 20 shows, in a front view, a grooved sheet pile having acylindrical segment and external faceplates;

[0048]FIG. 21 shows, in a top view, a grooved sheet pile having acylindrical segment and external faceplates;

[0049]FIG. 22 shows, in a front view, a grooved sheet pile having acylindrical segment of variable thickness;

[0050]FIG. 23 shows, in a bottom view, a grooved sheet pile having acylindrical segment of variable thickness;

[0051]FIG. 24 shows, in a front view, a grooved sheet pile having twocylindrical segments;

[0052]FIG. 25 shows, in a front view, a grooved sheet pile having apanel composed of two cylindrical segments, and straps;

[0053]FIG. 26 shows, in a front view, a grooved sheet pile having apanel composed of two cylindrical segments, and a flat reinforcingmember;

[0054]FIG. 27 shows, in a front view, a grooved sheet pile having apanel composed of two cylindrical segments, and a semi-circularreinforcing member superimposed on the adjacent edges of the segments;

[0055]FIG. 28 shows, in a bottom view, a grooved sheet pile having apanel composed of two cylindrical segments, and a semi-circularreinforcing member superimposed on the adjacent edges of the segments;

[0056]FIG. 29 shows, in a front view, a grooved sheet pile having apanel composed of two cylindrical segments, and a circular reinforcingmember mounted between the cylindrical segments;

[0057]FIG. 30 shows, in a front view, a grooved sheet pile having apanel composed of two cylindrical segments, and fixing elements;

[0058]FIG. 31 shows, in a front view, a grooved sheet pile having apanel composed of three cylindrical segments;

[0059]FIG. 32 shows, in a front view, a grooved sheet pile having apanel composed of three cylindrical segments, and straps;

[0060]FIG. 33 shows, in a front view, a grooved sheet pile having apanel composed of three cylindrical segments, and fixing elements;

[0061]FIG. 34 shows, in a front view, a grooved sheet pile having apanel composed of three cylindrical segments, a ring of variable widthand a flat reinforcing member;

[0062]FIG. 35 shows, in a bottom view, a grooved sheet pile having apanel composed of three cylindrical segments, a ring of variable widthand a flat reinforcing member; and

[0063]FIG. 36 shows, in a side view, a grooved sheet pile having a panelcomposed of three cylindrical segments, a ring of variable width and aflat reinforcing member.

[0064] A grooved sheet pile according to the invention comprises acylindrical segment 1, or a plurality of cylindrical segments 1, afemale locking element 2 and a male locking element 3. In accordancewith various structural embodiments, there may be fixed to thecylindrical segment 1 either fixing elements 4, or internal strap 5, orexternal strap 6, or stiffening ribs 7, or internal faceplates 8, 9, orexternal faceplates 10, 11, or a flat reinforcing member 12, or asemi-circular reinforcing member 13, or finally a circular reinforcingmember 14. The cylindrical segment 1 shown in FIG. 14 and 15 is cut froma round tube (not shown) together with a ring 15 of regular width,whereas that of FIG. 16 and 17 is cut together with a ring 16 ofvariable width. A grooved sheet pile shown in FIG. 22 and 23 is composedof two sections 17 of small thickness and a section 18 of greaterthickness interposed between them and made of a corrosion-resistantmaterial or of a material of enhanced strength as compared to that usedfor the sections 17. A grooved sheet pile shown in FIG. 34 to 36 iscomposed of three cylindrical segments 1 cut together with rings 16 ofvariable width.

[0065] A grooved pile having a trough-shaped body is fabricated bycutting, from a round tube, a cylindrical segment 1 extending along thelength thereof and welding to this segment locking elements 2 and 3. Infavorable ground conditions and under insignificant loads supported bythe sheet-pile wall, the grooved pile may be produced in a simplifiedform, without using reinforcing members, as illustrated in FIG. 1. Inmore severe operating conditions however, it is necessary to weld to thecylindrical segment 1 either appropriate fixing elements 4, or aninternal strap 5, or an external strap 6, or internal faceplates 8 and9, or external faceplates 10 and 11, or stiffening ribs 7, or finallyvarious combinations of the above-mentioned pieces, as demonstrated inFIG. 2 to 13 and 18 to 21. The cylindrical segment 1 may be cut from atube together with an annular section of this latter in the form of aring 15 of regular width or a ring 16 of variable width (see FIG. 14 to17). These rings 15 and 16 play the role of reinforcing members intendedto relieve the most stressed portions of the grooved pile, therebyeliminating the need for using reinforcing members 4 to 11. In order toreinforce the most stressed part of the grooved pile and/or to enhanceits corrosion resistance, its body may be made composed of sections ofcylindrical segments welded together, of which one at least has anincreased wall thickness or is made of a corrosion-resistant and/or astronger material (FIG. 22 and 23).

[0066] The above-described techniques for producing a grooved sheet pilehaving a trough-shaped body may be used also to obtain an enlarged pilewhose body is composed of two or more cylindrical segments 1 arranged ina row as shown in FIG. 24 to 36. In case where such enlarged piles areintended to work in sufficiently light conditions, the cylindricalsegments 1 are joined as shown in FIG. 24 and 31. On the other hand,when using an enlarged pile in more severe conditions, it becomesnecessary to weld to the cylindrical segments of such piles eitherfixing elements 4, or an internal strap 5, or an external strap 6, orinternal faceplates 8 and 9, or external faceplates 10 and 11, orstiffening ribs 7, or reinforcing members 12 to 14, or finally variouscombinations of these pieces, as shown in FIG. 25 to 30 and 32 to 34.

[0067] The preferred embodiments as described hereinabove andillustrated in the attached drawings are only given as examples intendedto make clear the essence of the invention. It is quite evidenttherefore that other embodiments thereof are possible and variousmodifications may be introduced thereto without departing from the scopeof the claims below.

BEST EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0068] In order to fabricate a grooved sheet pile having a trough-shapedbody, a finished tube is selected from the range of batch-produced tubesused e.g. to lay gas- and oil pipelines, water supply and heating mainsetc. having diameters of 630 to 1,420 mm and wall thickness of 9 to 20mm. A cylindrical segment 1 is cut from such a tube, having a radialangle of 180° and fitted with a ring 16 of variable width, after whichlocking elements 2 and 3 are welded thereto.

[0069] In case an enlarged grooved sheet pile is needed, two or morecylindrical segments 1 will be used provided with rings 16 of variablewidth, which segments must be cut from tubes having diameters of 530 to8420 mm and wall thickness of 8 to 14 mm. The segments thus cut arearranged then in a row and welded together. The final step of producingan enlarged grooved pile consists in welding locking elements to theside faces of the panel as shown in FIG. 34 to 36.

Industrial Applicability

[0070] The proposed grooved sheet piles are usable primarily inconstructing and renovating hydraulic structures for numerous purposesand in erecting retaining walls for pits or other temporary structures.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of producing a grooved sheet pile,comprising the steps of separate fabrication of a trough-shaped body andlocking elements, characterized in that said body is produced bycutting, from a round tube, a cylindrical segment extending along thelength thereof, and in that each locking element is fixed to the sideedge of the segment thus cut or in the vicinity of this side edge. 2.Method according to claim 1 characterized in that said cylindricalsegment is cut together with an annular section of the tube, whichsection adjoins said cylindrical segment or is located within the middlepart thereof.
 3. Method according to claim 1 characterized in that thecut cylindrical segment is reinforced by securing to it or fitting intoit reinforcing members.
 4. Method of producing a grooved sheet pile,comprising the steps of fabrication of a panel and locking elements,characterized in that the process of fabricating said panel consists incutting, from a round tube, cylindrical segments extending along thelength thereof, then the segments thus cut are arranged in a row in aparallel position with respect to each other and rigidly fixed together,and each locking element is fixed to the side edge of said panel or inthe vicinity of this side edge.
 5. A grooved sheet comprising atrough-shaped body and locking elements, characterized in that said bodyis cut from a round tube in the form of a cylindrical segment extendingalong the length of said tube and having a radial angle not exceeding180°, each locking element being made in the form of a separate piecefixed to the side edge of said cylindrical segment or in the vicinity ofthis side edge.
 6. Grooved sheet pile according to claim 5 characterizedin that is provided with a strap fixed to the middle part of saidcylindrical segment, thus forming a lens-shaped air cavity extendingalong the length of said cylindrical element.
 7. Grooved sheet pileaccording to any of claims 5 and 6, characterized in that it is providedwith fixing elements rigidly coupling together the side edges of saidcylindrical element.
 8. Grooved sheet pile according to any of claims 5to 7, characterized in that it is provided with longitudinal stiffeningribs adjoining the side edges of said cylindrical segment.
 9. Groovedsheet pile according to claim 5 characterized in that the body wall has,along the length of s grooved sheet pile, a variable thickness and/orsections made of different materials.
 10. Grooved sheet pile accordingto claim 5 characterized in that a part of said body is made in the formof a ring cut from a round tube together with said cylindrical segment.11. Grooved sheet pile, comprising a panel and locking elements,characterized in that said panel is composed of elongated cylindricalsegments with a radial angle not exceeding 180°, that are cut from tubesand arranged in a row in a parallel position with respect to each other,said cylindrical segments being rigidly fixed together and each lockingelement being made in the form of a separate piece and fixed to the sideedge of said panel or in the vicinity of this side edge.
 12. Groovedsheet pile according to claim 11 characterized in that it comprises areinforcing member mounted between s cylindrical segments or put ontothe adjacent side edges of said cylindrical segments.
 13. Grooved sheetpile according to claim 11 characterized in that it comprises fixingelements rigidly coupling together the side edges of said cylindricalelements.
 14. Grooved sheet pile according to claim 11 characterized inthat the panel wall has, along the length of said grooved sheet pile, avariable thickness and/or sections made of different materials. 15.Grooved sheet pile according to claim 11 characterized in that a part ofsaid panel is made in the form of a ring cut from a round tube togetherwith said cylindrical segment.